Chapter 22: Chapter XXI
I had just gotten off the phone with Laura letting her know I was on my way home. I found myself smiling at the fact that I would be going back home to someone which seemed like a foreign concept to me. I was always alone with no really support. Even with the club I still had my moments of self loathing and destructive tendencies that I worked to keep in check all the time. Still knowing I have a place to be with someone waiting for me filled me with hope that I wasn't such a worthless person after all.
Turning east on highway 299 toward Shasta I make my way through the mountains then catching glimpses of the lake as I passed made me want to bring Laura here to see this beautiful sight. Pulling over to take a picture parking my bike I went to grab my phone when a funny smell permeated the air. It had a dry sulfur taste that left me kind of breathless. My vision started to cloud up as I fall to the ground trying to gain function of my limbs, but they were going numb.
A figure walked toward me and as it got closer I could tell who it was. “Hello again, I told you we would catch you. Maybe you should have listened,” one of my old masters said as I passed out cold. My last thought being I hope they don't find Laura.
I'm not sure how long I was unconscious and my body felt like lead so moving was impossible, but by the time I came to I found myself in my old room in a place I thought never to see again. Both of my previous masters were sitting in chairs close to my bed. Sitting up slowly neither of them lash out as I sit myself up.
“So you've had your fun now being out in the world, and now we need you back to work,” the first master said. I didn't say anything knowing it wouldn't do any good which seemed to irritate the other master sitting here. “I think he's lost his thirst for the hunt.” he says pulling a vial out of his pocket. Part of me starts to panic knowing what that vial of liquid can do to me, “Perhaps we should boost his confidence?”
Controlling my breathing the first master sees that I am not interested in that vial of evil. Suddenly a sharp pain pierces my neck and I can feel the all to familiar feeling of evil grabbing hold of my body. My limbs became numb as my mind pushed me to the back behind a glass wall where I could watch everything but do nothing to stop it. “Now mighty hunter here's the job we have for you.” Looking down I couldn't believe who they wanted me to kill.
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Its been 2 months since Jasper went missing and no one could find a trace of him. Yuji even tried finding him her way being the best tracker I know, but she was stumped too. Riri has been keeping a eye on the dark web and other channels seeing if he might be there, but no such luck either. The club kept an eye on me still, but their main focus was finding Jasper at the moment.
I trained harder then ever hoping it would help me find him. I took time to meditate hoping to sense him, but I could only feel that he was alive. I could feel him but I couldn't locate him. Yuji would see me beat myself up about it saying, “Look he wouldn't want you finding him right now anyways. Besides there's more then one way to look at this.” Hearing this I started to think about all the things he's told me.
The supposed “masters” he had were always going to come get him so they had to have a way of finding him. Thinking that one of the brothers might have been closer to Jasper then others I call Maya hoping she might know. “Hey girl How you been? No trouble has showed up has it? We'll be there in a second,” she said quickly and confidently.
Chuckling lightly I replied, “Nah everything is fine here. I just had a question for you?” “Yeah go ahead.” “Was one of the brothers ya know kinda close with Jasper? I ask because I was hoping to talk with him or her if there is some..one?” I asked trying not to sound insane. She took a minute to answer but said hesitantly, “Yeah sort of. The band he plays with knows him pretty well. I'll have them come on the next shift to sit with you. Will that work for ya?” Maya said sounding hopeful.
“Yeah that would be great, thanks girl.” I said, “I've been beating my head trying to think of where Jasper could be, and I'm hoping talking with they guys will help.” “Yeah they will probably have similar questions for you as well just so you know,” Maya said but stopped talking to someone else. “Hey girl I gotta go.” She hung up leaving me a bit bewildered. Well atleast I've got a start on where to look. Thinking to myself I walk to the board I have up in my living room looking at the clues I have about Jasper.
Trying to profile the guy wasn't easy, but he did tell me he came from Russia and I figure the masters are from there too. I only knew so much about Jasper which frustrated me to know end. My computer pinged at that moment signaling an email. Moving to sit down I open my laptop checking my email. My internet techie that was helping me finally got back tome and what she sent isn't good.
Hey Kai,
Been decades since I last heard from you. I got that info on the guys stocking your intended. Make sure you take help these guys don't play games. Hit me up when you get back. If you survive.
Mel
Cryptic as ever but I had a location of where he might be. Looking over the information I could tell this wasn't going to be easy, but I wasn't going to leave him there either. “Yuji!” I yelled for my spirit guardian hoping she wasn't far. She came flying down the stairs weapon in hand looking every where for an intruder. “What the hell Kai?! I thought we were under attack!” she yelled at me. “Look Mel got back to me and found out where Jasper might be. I know we need to go to his brothers, but I know we can handle this. Their next shift change is in 2 hours and I want to scout this place out before they show up. Pack light we leave in 5 minutes,” I said making sure she understood the urgency in my voice. Less then 2 mins later she was geared up ready to go. "Alright time to see who's got what mine," I said creating a portal, stepping through with Yuji guarding my back.